"taco'd" lol Cute!

Of the cats who let me trim, I only do a few claws at a time. Most
of the cats I've had squirm so much I'm afraid I'll hurt them, so I
have the vets office do them. I've seen many suggestions here over
the years on how to do them effectively, but none of the
suggestions work for me. I hope you can find something that works.

The first time I tried to clip Benny, I tried the towel (and had
another person't help!). It was a disaster. He *hated* being taco'd
*hee*. I started to pick him up (no towel), hold a paw or two and
"pretend" like I would clip, but not actually do anything. I'd usually
sit on a chair and put his rump down on my lap, like he was sitting in
the chair too (I hope you can picture this, hard to describe).
Immediately afterward, I would give him a treat.

Then I'd do one or two claws, stop and give a treat and do more later.
No, I can do them all and he will purr!

Take it slowly, and approach confidently. As they say, Rome wasn't
built in a day, and once she learns that treats and pets go along with
the clipping, it's a much more positive experience.

Rene

Hi.  My cat, Snowflake, hates to have her claws clipped.  I started
doing this since I first adopted her (she was 3 months old).  No matter
how soothing, calm, etc. I am -- she screams like she is being stabbed
to death!

So, it is the soft taco roll for me as well.  However, she sometimes
unrolls and I have to almost lie on top of her.  It is stressfull for
both of us, but I cannot afford to take her to the vet to get her claws
clipped (heck, I cannot afford to get myself a manicure!).

Snowflake has always been a slightly jumpy kitty (she was a babe living
on the mean streets before she was rescued and put up for adoption).
Thanks!

-Enid

<snip>

My experience is that the more you do it, the more they get used to it.

Good technique and tools are esssential. I like to use the
small, blunt-nosed, notched, scissor-like clippers (Groommax Cat Nail
Clippers, available at PetSmart ), as they are less obtrusive and
easier to handle.  I've trimmed claws on hundreds
of cats (used to be a groomer), and those work best for me. You will
eventually find a set of tools and a routine that works for you, if you
stick with it long enough. Also, the vet can give you lessons in
technique if you need them.

The method I use is this:

While standing, place the cat on a folded towel, on an *unfamiliar*++
table, with his head to your left. Put his body close to yours so that
you can lean to the outside (furthest from your body) and clip first
the fronts, and then the backs (or vice-verse - I do both).
When clipping the fronts, I pull the paw up and out, and kinda behind
their head, so that if they do try to bite, they have to go past their
own arm to do so, which gives me enough time to get away. When clipping
the backs, I just pull the foot out, or in some cases, I gently flip it
back. As I do the backs, I block the head with my arm and elbow, so
that the cat can't reach around and bite.

Flip kitty 180 degrees (this is why you have him on a towel), and
repeat the procedure on the other side. Let go, and watch him fly! ;o)

Obviously, if you have any cats that are real biters (rather than
nippers), you have to have someone scruff them while you trim their
nails. If the cat remains difficult to trim, I suggest having your vet
do it for you (should be free or less than $10). Also, the vet may be
able to help you improve your technique so that it becomes much easier
for you.

++The reason you put the cat in an unfamiliar placve to do the
trimming is that it distracts the cat, and allows it to focus on
something other than biting you. If you trim in the cat's own
"territory" it knows exactly where to move, where to jump to, and where
to hide. I do the trimming on my kitchen island, since that is a place
the cats are not familiar with. A folding table in an attached garage
would serve the same purpose.

HTH,
L.

Tell your friend to play with her cat's paws when she's petting him/her.
This will get the cat used to having the paws touched and played with and
might help the cat feel less threatened when it comes time to clip. Others
have given excellent suggestions for the actual clipping.

W